Golf bag

ABSTRACT

A golf bag having a hand hold formed at the lower portion of the golf bag body out of line with the shoulder strap of the golf bag.

Q United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,799,227

Cantwell Mar. 26, 1974 [54] GOLF BAG FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSlnvemori David Byme Camwe", 580 10,523 4/1892 Great Britain 150/15 AEdgeworth Ave., Colmzi, Calif. 94014 P E D ld F. N [22] Filed: Apr. 14,1969 rzmary xammer ona Orton Appl. No.: 815,958

US. Cl. ISO/1.5 R, 224/45 R Int. Cl A63b 55/00 Field of Search ISO/1.5A, 1.5 B, 1.5 C

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Keeling 5 7 ABSTRACT A golf baghaving a hanci hold formed at thelower portion of the golf bag body outof line with the shoulder strap of the golf bag.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Pmmmmes an 3.799.227

INVENTOR DAVID B. CANTWELL ATTORNEY GOLF BAG This invention relates togolf bags and more specifically the invention is directed to a golf baghaving a particularly located hand hold for use in carrying and handlingthe bag.

Convention golf bags have heretofore been provided with a shoulder strapdesigned to support the bag in an inclined position while it is carried.The shoulder strap is connected to the upper and lower ends of the bagalong the longitudinal axis thereof. Usually a handle is found near theupper end of the bag lying substancially under and parallel to theshoulder strap. These conventional bags however have not always provencomfortable and convenient to carry in position over the shoulder or tomove from place to place with the handle. It is the intention of thepresent invention to provide ,a particularly located hand hold for agolf bag to permit easy and convenient handling both in the across theshoulder position and when handling the handle.

Briefly the present invention is directed to an improved golf bag forcarrying golf clubs. The golf bag includes a club carrying body having aclosed lower end and an open upper end for accomodating golf clubstherein. A shoulder carrying strap having an upper end and a lower endis connected at spaced apart locations of the body so that the strap isparrallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. A hand hold for grippingby the hand of a golfer is formed at the side of the bag adjacent thelower end thereof. The hand hold is placed on the circumference of thebody in a manner so as to be conveniently gripped by a golfer when thebag is being carried in an across the body position utilizing theshoulder strap in a convenient manner.

In a broad aspect the present invention provides a hand hold formed atthe lower portion of a golf bag body. The hand hold is formed adjacentthe closed end of the body and is adapted for gripping by a golfershand. The hand hold is located on the side of the bag body out of linewith the conventional shoulder carrying strap which typically extendsparallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag body and is used to carrythe golf bag in an over the shoulder position. The longitudinal axis ofthe hand hold extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of thebody andthe shoulder carrying strap. I

In a more limited aspect the present invention comprises a golf baghaving a shoulder strap connected thereto. The shoulder strap extendslongitudinally along the golf bag and is used to support the bag in anacross the body position. A hand hold is formed at the lower portion ofthe bag body out ofline with the longitudinal centerline of the shoulderstrap. The hand hold is of the inverted U-shape and the end tabs of theinverted U shaped member are adapted to be connected to the lower collarof the bag. The hand bar portion of the inverted U shaped member extendsalong the periphery of the bag body at right angles to the longitudinalline of the shoulder strap.

In another aspect the present invention provides a hand hold formed atthe lower portion of a golf bag body which hand hold is recessed intothe lower collar portion of the golf bag. Thus a special lower collar isprovided with a port or cut out portion sized to accomodate a golfershand. The interior of the collar is provided with a recessed portionsuitable for gripping. Means are provided for separating the golfershand from the clubs contained in the interior of the golf bag body.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide an improvedgolf bag having a hand hold near the closed bottom end which hand holdfacilitates carrying and handling of the golf bag. Further objects andadvantages of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawingwhich is made a part of this specification and in which FIG. I is aperspective view of the preferred embodiment of golf bag assembled inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of an alternativeembodiment of golf bag assembled in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken of line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a golf bag generally indicated by the number 10is shown. The golf bag '10 includes a club carrying body 12 which isused to hold the golf clubs. The bag body 10 has an open end 14 intowhich the clubs are inserted. The lower end 16 of the body 10 is closedto hold the clubs in place in the bag. As is known in the art thebagbody may be formed of canvas or vinyl material. Suitable plastic orleather is used to close off the bottom end of the body.

A shoulder strap 20 is connected to the bag body 12 and is used tosupport the bag in an inclined position over a golfers shoulder while itis carried. The upper end 22 of the shoulder strap 20 is connected tothe upper end of the body 12 by suitable means such as wire loop 24. Thelower end 26 of the shoulder strap is also connected to the body 12 bysuitable means such as buckle 28. The shoulder strap is connected to thebody 12 so that it is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 12.It is customary to also provide a handle 30 beneath the shoulder strap20. The handle 30 also is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe bag body 12.

In accordance with the present invention a hand hold is formed at thelower portion of the golf bag body 12. The hand hold is formed adjacentthe closed end 16 of the body and is adapted to be gripped by a golfershand. The hand hold is located on the side of the body out of line withthe conventional shoulder strap. Thus in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention a hand hold 32 is connected to thelower portion of the bag body 12. The hand hold 32 is formed in ageneral inverted U shaped configuration. The tabs 35 and 37 of theinverted U are inserted between the bag body 12 and the lower bag collar34. The tabs 35 and 37 are fixed in place by suitable means such as bysewing or stapling.

The hand hold is connected to the lower portion of the bag out of linewith the shoulder strap. The hand hold is arranged so that it is aboutout of phase with the longitudinal axis of the shoulder strap. In thismanner the hand hold is in the most advantageous position to be grippedby the golfer when the bag is carried in the across the shoulderposition. It is also clear that the longitudinal axis of the hand holdis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoulder strap. Thusthe hand bar portion 39 of the hand hold is disposed at right angles tothe shoulder strap 20.

An additional feature of the hand hold 32 of the preferred form of thepresent invention is the dual use of the hand hold as a holder for anumbrella or the like as well as hand hold. Thus a hole 40 is formed inthe hand hold 32 for accomodating the tip of an umbrella. The upperportion of the umbrella is secured by means of buckled loop 42. Theumbrella may be carried on the bag in such a manner without detractingfrom the prime function of the hand hold, i.e., serving as a handie onthe lower part of the golf bag for the golfer.

An alternative embodiment assembled in accordance with the invention isshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottomportion of a golf bag and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3of FIG. 2. The bag body 44 terminates in a special lower collar 45. Thelower collar 45 contains a hand port 46 on its peripheral surface. Theport 46 is shaped and sized so as to comfortably accomodate entry of atleast the four fingers of a golfers hand.

An inverted base plate 48 and a floor plate 49 cooperate with the lowercollar 45 to hold the fabric or vinyl of the bag body 44 securely heldby means of sewing or riveting. The inverted base plate 48 contains adepressed portion 51 which is formed to accomodate entry of a golfershand between the base plate 48 and the floor plate 49. Thus thedepressed portion 51 is alligned with the hand port 46 to provide arecessed hand hold at the lower portion of the golf bag body 44. Thefloor plate 49 extends over the recessed portion 51 to prevent clubsfrom contacting the golfers hand while engaged in the handheld.

The handhold of the alternative embodiment is advantageous in that it isunlikely to become snagged while the bag is being transported. Thealternative handhold is also formed on the side of the bag out of linewith the shoulder strap. Thus the alternative handhold is formed about90 out of phase with the longitudinal centerline of the shoulder strap.The handhold is formed so that its longitudinal centerline isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bag. In this manner thehandhold is most conveniently grasped by a golfer when the bag issupported in an across the shoulder position on the golfers body by theshoulder strap.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically disclosed the present invention is not limited thereto asmany variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.The invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a golf bag which includes a bag body having a closed bottom endand an open top end for holding clubs and a shoulder carrying straphaving its ends connected to the body and extending longitudinally alongat least a portion of said body the improvement which comprises a handhold on the side of the bag body out of phase with the shoulder strapand formed on the lower portion of said body adjacent the closed end,the longitudinal axis of the hand hold being perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the shoulder strap.

2. In a golf bag which includes a bag body having a closed bottom endhaving a lower collar formed thereabout and an open top end for holdingclubs and a shoulder carrying strap having its ends connected to thebody and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said bodythe improvement which comprises a hand hold recessed into the lowercollar of the bag body adjacent the closed end.

3. A golf bag comprising a club carrying body having a closed lower endand an open upper end for accomodating golf clubs therein, a shouldercarrying strap having an upper end and a lower end connected to saidbody at spaced apart locations on said body parallel to the longitudinalaxis thereof and a hand hold for gripping by a hand of a golfer formedon the side of said body adjacent the lower end thereof; said hand holdbeing 90 out of phase with the longitudinal centerline of the shoulderstrap and the longitudinal axis of the hand hold being perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of said shoulder strap.

4. The golf bag of claim 3 where the hand hold is of inverted U shapeand extends along the outside of the bag body.

5. The golf bag of claim 3 where the hand hold is recessed into lowercollar of the golf bag.

6. The golf bag of claim 5 where the recessed hand hold is formed by aport in the lower collar and a recessed portion in an inverted bottomplate.

1. In a golf bag which includes a bag body having a closed bottom endand an open top end for holding clubs and a shoulder carrying straphaving its ends connected to the body and extending longitudinally alongat least a portion of said body the improvement which comprises a handhold on the side of the bag body 90* out of phase with the shoulderstrap and formed on the lower portion of said body adjacent the closedend, the longitudinal axis of the hand hold being perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the shoulder strap.
 2. In a golf bag which includesa bag body having a closed bottom end having a lower collar formedthereabout and an open top end for holding clubs and a shoulder carryingstrap having its ends connected to the body and extending longitudinallyalong at least a portion of said body the improvement which comprises ahand hold recessed into the lower collar of the bag body adjacent theclosed end.
 3. A golf bag comprising a club carrying body having aclosed lower end and an open upper end for accomodating golf clubstherein, a shoulder carrying strap having an upper end and a lower endconnected to said body at spaced apart locations on said body parallelto the longitudinal axis thereof and a hand hold for gripping by a handof a golfer formed on the side of said body adjacent the lower endthereof; said hand hold being 90* out of phase with the longitudinalcenterline of the shoulder strap and the longitudinal axis of the handhold being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shoulderstrap.
 4. The golf bag of claim 3 where the hand hold is of inverted Ushape and extends along the outside of the bag body.
 5. The golf bag ofclaim 3 where the hand hold is recessed into lower collar of the golfbag.
 6. The golf bag of claim 5 where the recessed hand hold is formedby a port in the lower collar and a recessed portion in an invertedbottom plate.